5. Lily

CHAPTER 5

LILY

“I’ve never seen anything like it.”

Hannah stares at me, her eyes bugging out. She invited me to have afternoon tea with her so I could tell her all about my new job. At first, I was hesitant for fear she’d judge me, but then I remembered we’d both escaped the same cult because we were tired of hiding from real life. However, now, with her looking at me like I’ve lost my mind, I’m wondering if I should have kept all of this to myself.

I had a lot of fun working last night. I was completely out of my comfort zone, but it was an adrenaline rush. By the time I got home, I barely got my teeth brushed before I fell asleep. There was so much to see at Edge. Some of it I wasn’t even a little bit prepared for, but I couldn’t look away.

“That sounds,” Hannah sits up straight and clears her throat, “really freaking awesome. I’ve read about clubs like that in some of the books Max got me, but I wasn’t sure if they were real.”

Almost choking on my tea, I set my cup down before I drop it. “What? You think it’s awesome?”

She nods, a wide smile on her face. “Yes. It will be so good for you. What was it like watching people have sex? Weird? Hot, though, right? Was it hot?”

I giggle. “Am I going to regret telling you?”

“Of course not. But I need more details. The owner guy, you said he’s good looking? How good are we talking? Is he creepy?”

My shoulders relax as Drake’s face pops into my head. He was so kind last night. It seemed like at least once an hour, he came down to check in on me. Part of me wanted to ask if he does that with all his employees, but deep down, I already knew the answer. What I don’t know, though, is why.

I’m chalking it up to him making sure I could actually do the job. My first impression hadn’t been great.

“He’s not creepy. Not at all.”

“Hmm. Do you think he’s a Dom?”

The thought has crossed my mind at least a hundred times. I don’t know a lot about BDSM other than what I read on the sheets he provided me with, but I’m pretty sure the answer is yes. He has a commanding presence about him. But it’s not the kind I’m used to. I feel safe around Drake. I never felt that way around Jack, my ex-husband.

“I assume so, but it’s not like I asked him.”

Hannah grins. “You should totally ask him.”

Heat spreads through my body. “Yeah, right. Anyway, I need to go. I have to get another dress from the thrift store before work .”

Hannah waggles her eyebrows. “Maybe one that shows you off a little more than the last one? Drive him crazy.”

The fire inside me intensifies all the way down to my core. Last night, wearing that dress, showing off my legs and every curve of my body, was the sexiest I’ve ever felt in my life. It was unnerving. Yet, I felt beautiful. Seen. Not like the doormat my ex always expected me to be. I felt powerful.

Maybe Hannah is right. Maybe I should try a dress that’s even sexier tonight.

While I was rummaging through the racks of dresses at the thrift store, my mind kept drifting back to Drake. The way his eyes held a spark of genuine interest when he looked at me, how his touch felt both gentle and possessive at the same time. It was intoxicating yet terrifying in its intensity.

But then there was Jack and my past haunting me like a shadow. His controlling behavior, his manipulation that left scars on my heart, the way he treated me like a maid. It whispered doubts in my mind. Could I truly let myself fall for someone new when the wounds from before are still so raw and tender?

I finally settle on a deep crimson dress that hugs my figure in all the right places. When I get to the club and change into it, I can’t help but wonder if he’ll approve, if his gaze will linger a little longer when he sees me in it.

I’m a mix of nerves and excitement. The pulsating beat of the music reverberates through my body as I make my way to the bar. Drake is already there, leaning against the counter with a drink in his hand, his gaze locks onto me the moment I enter.

A shiver runs down my spine at the intensity of his stare, and I can't help but feel a rush of desire mingled with apprehension. What is this pull he has over me, this magnetic force that draws me in like a moth to a flame?

I take a deep breath in, trying to appear nonchalant despite the mess of emotions churning inside me. He smiles, a knowing glint in his eyes that sends my heart racing.

“Lily,” he says, his voice low and smooth like melted chocolate. “You look stunning tonight.”

His compliment sends a rush of warmth through me, and my cheeks flushing under his gaze. There's something about the way he looks at me that makes me feel seen in a way I've never experienced before. It's both thrilling and terrifying.

“Thank you,” I say breathlessly.

“What did you think of this place last night? You’re back for a second shift, so I’m taking that as a good sign.”

I take a moment to gather my thoughts, trying to ignore the flutter of nerves in my stomach. “It was...eye-opening,” I finally admit, my voice barely above a whisper. “Different from anything I've experienced before.”

Drake nods, a small smile playing on his lips. "Edge has a way of showing you things about yourself you never knew," he says cryptically, his eyes holding mine as if he's trying to decipher the thoughts swirling in my mind.

I swallow hard, feeling exposed under his penetrating gaze. There's a question lurking in his eyes, one that I can't quite decipher, but it sends a shiver down my spine.

Before I can respond, a commotion at the other end of the bar draws our attention. A group of patrons is getting rowdy, their laughter loud and boisterous.

Drake's expression grows serious as he scans the scene, his eyes narrowing slightly. “I should go make sure nothing gets out of hand. You know how to find me if you need anything.”

He places his hand on my shoulder and gives it a slight squeeze, warming me all the way down to my toes.

Once he’s gone, I clock in for my shift. I was serving drinks without the help of my trainer by the end of my shift last night, so Shelly told me I could work on my own tonight but to reach out if I needed anything.

As the night progresses, the atmosphere grows more charged. The music throbs in time with the pulsing energy of the club, and the patrons seem to shed their inhibitions along with their attire. I weave my way through the crowded dance floor, balancing a tray of drinks as I make my rounds.

I catch glimpses of Drake moving through the crowd, his presence commanding attention wherever he goes. There's an air of authority about him that's both intimidating and alluring.

When I collect a round of drinks to be delivered to the second floor, my heart beats faster. I was up there several times last night, and every time, I was shocked—and aroused—by what I saw. A woman lay over a bench with a man standing at her side, spanking her bare bottom. A man sat on one of the plush couches being sucked off by a woman kneeling in front of him. Two men and a woman all had sex together. I’ve never seen or heard so much passion.

Sounds of pleasure and pain get louder and louder with each step I take. My knees shake in anticipation of what I might see. Sweat gathers at my lower back, and when I finally get to the second landing, I suck in a breath. Ahead of me, a woman is cuffed with her arms suspended from a chain hanging from the ceiling. She’s completely naked and practically glowing. Her eyes are glassy, and parts of her skin are red. Something is dangling from her nipples, and as I get closer, I realize they’re some kind of clamps. Ouch . My own nipples ache. I don’t think I’d like that. Is she getting pleasure from it?

I quickly deliver the drinks to where they need to go and head back toward the stairwell, only to be stopped in my tracks by a scene unfolding to one side. My hand moves to my throat, and my breathing stops. I stand in the middle of the space, staring at the couple, unable to tear my eyes away even if I wanted to.

A man, dressed in slacks and a silk button-down shirt, is spanking a woman's bottom. Her skirt rides up to reveal a black thong with the imprint of his hand on her skin. She lets out a muffled moan as he continues to spank her, and a tremor of desire ripples through my body.

This scene feels different from the others. I’m captivated by it. It’s more intense. More erotic. Sensual even. Yet there’s no doubt the man is in complete control.

Drake appears beside me, his eyes locked on the couple. “It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” he asks, his voice low and steady.

His scent surrounds me, giving me a sense of calm and comfort. I nod, unable to find the right words to describe the complexity of emotions surging through me.

Drake places a hand on my lower back. “You’ve got a natural curiosity about this world, Lily. I can see it in your eyes. I could last night, too.”

I take a deep breath as his warmth seeps into my skin. “What is it about the BDSM lifestyle that fascinates me? I’m not sure. Maybe it’s the power dynamics or the raw emotion it evokes. Or maybe it’s just the sheer thrill of the forbidden. I’ve never seen anything like it before.”

Drake’s thumb starts to move in slow motion. “It’s different for everyone, Lily. And that’s part of what makes it so intriguing. Some people find it exhilarating, and others find it comforting. Some find it both.”

Heat shoots down to my core, and I ache for something I’ve never ached for. The touch of a man. Not just any touch, though. His touch. On my bare skin.

Shoot. I’ve got to get out of here. Away from this sexually potent man. I sidestep him, breaking our contact and immediately missing it.

“I better get back to work,” I say, then scurry away without looking back.